Are you looking for the learning and creative ideas for older kids, age 8 and up? Here are ten terrific blogs to check out today.

Why Is After School Time for Older Kids Different?

My daughter has now passed the magical boundary between the first half and the second half of elementary school. We have certainly seen the change both in school requirements for this year and in her behavior. She is a lot more self-directed in how she uses her free time after school. On top of it, she (and many other older students) don’t have a lot of free time left as more opportunities are available to them in school. As an example, she is doing a choir, a musical production, and an after school science class – all directly on school premises after a regular school day. No wonder that she wants to take it easy when she comes home - she wants to spend her time reading or playing outside after having completed her homework and her chores. I am also making a point to support her independence and not to push any activities on her. Evidently, I am not alone in leaving older kids to their own devices. My original idea for this post was to feature activities for older kids from After School Link Up participants, but there weren’t enough posts of that nature linked for a round up. So instead I am going to feature 10 blogs with great learning and creative ideas for older kids. First five blogs are from “after schoolers” and the rest from homeschoolers.

1. Relentlessly Fun Deceptively Educational

2. What Do We Do All Day

I read Erica’s blog What Do We Do All Daysince her older son was a preschooler, and now both her sons are in school. What I love – lovingly written and thoroughly researched booklists, and free thinking posts.

3. Edventures with Kids

Jacquie from eDventures With Kids loves the same things we love – science, books, geography, but what I love – posts about lifeskills for kids.

4. Creative Family Fun

Terri fromCreative Family Fun has two girls and a firm believer in supplementing their school education with creative activities at home. What I love – simple and useful craft projects.

5. Mollymoo

If your child (and you) really enjoy crafts, you have to check Mollymoo! Michelle is able to create amazing homemade toys from “nothing”. What I love – her daughter of the same age as mine is already an accomplished crafter following in her talented Mom’s footsteps.

6. Adventures in Mommydom

Ticia at Adventures in Mommydomis my long time bloggy friend raising twin boys who are now 9 and a girl who is pretty much exactly the same age as my Smarty. What I love – history, science and Bible study posts, especially teaching history with Legos.

7. Almost Unschoolers

If you, for some reason, decide to read only one blog, leave me immediately and go to Almost Unschoolers. Leah has 6 children, boys and girls, with the youngest of Smarty’s age and the oldest in high school. What I love – she can teach anything through baking. I keep telling her that she needs to write her own book about learning through cookies :)

8. Frugal Fun for Boys

When kids come home from school, they want to have fun. And Frugal Fun for Boysis true to its name, except that most girls will also love the activities that Sarah is writing about. What I love – Lego, Lego, and more Lego! Sarah conveniently tagged her activities with recommended ages, so you can check her archive of ideas for ages 8-10.

9. Lemon Lime Adventures

Dayna is a relatively new kid on the blogging block, but her Lemon Lime Adventuresare taking off in a big way with the focus on sensory and calming activities for the kids with sensory challenges and with excellent science posts. What I love – science.

10. All Things Beautiful

Phyllis from All Things Beautifulis another long term blog buddy of mine who homeschools boys of different ages including one with special needs. What I love – math investigations and geography studies.

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Copyright notice

You are welcome to use any ideas from my blog for your own personal use. You may not use my pictures without permission. If you blog about something that you have learned here, I will appreciate linking back to my blog. May the Force be with you!